Footwear traction device



Aug. 22, 1939. M. GLENN FOOTWEAR TRACTION DEVICE Filed larch 5, 1937 Patented Aug. 22, 1939 UNITED- STATES P TENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

The invention relates to an improved and novel device for easy and rapid attachment to shoes, boots, or other footwear in order to provide the wearer with traction while walking or hiking on ice, snow, grass, or any other slippery surface.

Some of the more important advantages of the device, which is the subject of my invention, are: (1) My invention provides the wearer with a device which can be readily applied to any type lo of dress, work, or sport shoe, boot, or the like. (2) My device can be easily and quickly attached or detached to and from a shoe or boot. (3) My device is light in weight and, when not in use, can easily be carried in the wearers pocket or handbag. (4) My device can be manufactured and sold at a small cost. (5) My device can be made for use of men, women, and children. (6) My device is self-adjusting to the wearers shoe. That is to say, no buckles, hooks, straps,

or the like are needed or necessary to fasten and adjust my device tothe wearers boot or shoe.

One form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view of the device when not attached to a shoe, boot, or the like.

Figure 2 is a view of the device when partly attached to a shoe.

Figure 3 is a side view of a shoe with my device attached and ready for wear.

Figure 4 is a view of the bottom of a shoe showing my device in place and its position for traction on the sole of the shoe.-

In describing my invention in greater detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In Figure l, I I' is a loop of elastic material attached at points I2 and I3 by pieces of chain 2 and 2 to loop of chain 3 3' at points I and I. I have chosen pieces of chain, a loop of chain, and a loop of rubber for the purpose of illustration, but, any other suitable materials can be used in the construction of my device.

In Figure 2 the toe 8 of the shoe 5 has been slipped through the loop of chain 3 3 and the loop of rubber I I has been drawn back on each side of the shoe 5 ready for side I of the rubber loop I I to be passed around the back II of the shoe 5 and under the heel 6 in the manner indicated by arrows 9 and I0. Likewise, the opposite side I of the rubber loop- I I is ready to be passed to the opposite side of the shoe 5 around the back II and under the heel B of the shoe 5.

In Figure 3 is shown the side of the shoe 5 with the device in place ready for wearing. In

this figure it will be noted'that the rubber loop or band I I has been adjusted from its position in Figure 2 so that side I of the rubber band I I begins at its upper point I3 on shoe 5 and crosses at the back II at a point I6 to the other or 5 opposite side of shoe 5 down to point I2. Likewise side I of the rubber loop or band I I' has been adjusted similarly on the opposite side of shoe 5.

Figure 4 shows my device in place as it appears on thesole 4 of the shoe 5. The Y formed by the chain 2' 3 3 clearly indicates the traction eifect, preventing the wearers foot from slipping in any direction. While my drawing shows my device in its simplest design, it is here pointed out that changes in the design may be made to provide for greater traction and rougher usage. For instance, several pieces of chain could be connected at point I2 and extend to different points on the chain 3 3' as it is shown on shoe sole 4. Other variations of my device may be made, such as, omitting piece of chain 2 which connects loop of chain 3 3 at point I with rubber band I I at point I3 without departing from the spirit of my invention. The particular showing of my device as illustrated in the accompanying drawing is one simple and very efiicient design of my device. In this design all like parts are identical. That is, I is identical to I; 2 identical to 2; 3 identical to 3. It will be apparent that the wearer need not hesitate, when putting on this design of my device, to decide whether 2 or 2 of the connecting chains should be on the sole 4 of the shoe 5.

It is to be understood that certain features of the invention herein disclosed may be employed in and with other combinations than those shown and described.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A traction device for footwear comprising a continuously formed frictional loop, a continuously and. independently formed elastic loop, said loops interconnected, and said elastic loop disposed to fit around the counter of the footwear.

2. The combination in a traction device for attachment to footwear of an elastic heel band interconnected to a substantially homogeneously formed loop of frictional material, and each of said band and loop individual and continuous in form.

3. A traction device for footwear comprising a substantially homogeneous continuously formed loop of frictional material, said loop disposed to fit around the toe of the wearers shoe, boot or 55 the like, and said loop also disposed to form traction means upon the sole of the wearers shoe, boot or the like, said loop interconnected to a continuously and individually formed elastic band.

4. A traction device for footwear comprising a loop of frictional material, said loop disposed to fit around the toe of the wearers shoe, boot or the like, an elastic loop, and means for interconnecting said loops, said means for interconnecting said loops comprising a part of the traction of the said device, when said device is placed upon the shoe, boot or the like of the wearer.

5. A traction device for footwear comprising a loop of frictional material to fit around the toe of a shoe, boot or the like, an individually, continuously and homogeneously formed elastic loop, and said loops interconnected by means composed of material substantially similar to said frictional material.

6. A traction device for footwear comprising a loop of frictional material connected to a continuously and individually formed elastic band by means of two pieces of frictional material, said frictional material homogeneous in structure. 

